Artificial christmas tree



F. c. sHlNA ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE Filed April 22, 195o I l Rmv IN V EN TOR. Hlm-'s ATTORNEYS Q. n @A Feb. 26, 1952 Patented Feb. 26, 1952 ARTIFICIAL vCHRISTMAS TREE F1-ank C. Shina, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to United Board & Carton Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 22, 1950, Serial No. 157,535

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in decorative articles and particularly to a threedirnensional artificial Christmas tree which may be sold in blank or knock-down form and thereafter assembled for use in homes, store windows, oices and many other places where decoration is desired during the Christmas or any other season.

Various kinds of articial Christmas trees have been proposed. Mostly, they comprise a trunk from which separate limbs extend in a manner Vto simulate the natural tree. The limbs frequently have -articial Yneedles to make them more nearly resemble the appearance of a spruce or other evergreen tree. Such trees may be used without decorations, may have decorations such as bubble lamps or the like attached to the limbs, or may be decorated by hanging ornaments of any kind on the limbs. Such artificial trees are relatively expensive and involve various manufacturing operations.

It also has been proposed to form artificial Christmas trees from pieces of sheet material of such shape that when assembled the assemblage has the general shape of an evergreen tree. While such assemblages may be made to generally simulate the shape of a natural evergreen tree, all such proposals of which I am aware have merely consisted of an assemblage of sections of the same color. Also being of sheet material, they have not `been particularly adapted for the supporting, in an attractive manner, of decorations such as normally are used'in decorating Christmas trees.

The present invention contemplates a threedimensional artificial Christmas tree which may be manufactured inexpensively in knock-down or blank form and which comprises sections, preferably of sheet material, which readily may be assembled to form a, relatively rigid, stable and attractive artiiicial Christmas tree. The several sections to form the Christmas treepreferably are sold in the form of a blank of cardboard `or the like with each `section dened by scoreor ycut Ylines so that it readily may be removed for :assembling with the other sections.

.In .its preferred form the invention contemplates va `three-dimensional artiiicial Christmas tree of vassembled sections of sheet material of any desired color which maybe decorated in an attractive rmanner with -simulated ornaments of a :contrasting color or colors. To 'that end, each section Sis 'formed 'with a plurality o'f simulated ornament-forming knock-out parts in various shapes to represent ornaments such yas those normally used to decorate Christmas trees; for example, balls, stars, crescents and the like. The knock-out parts are spaced over the respective sections at such places where it is desired that the simulated ornaments eventually appear. The blanks may be sold in sets of two or more with each blank of a set of a different color, such as red, blue, green, silver, gold, etc., so that when assemblying the sections of one of the blanks to form an articial Christmas tree. the knock-out parts may be removed from the blank being assembled to form openings into which knock-out parts of corresponding shape from a blank or blanks of a contrasting color or colors are inserted. Thus, if the sections of, for example, a green blank are being assembled, the knock-out parts may be removed. from those sections and the resulting spaces :filled with knock-out parts of a corresponding shape from' say, red and rsilver blanks. An attractive artificial tree is thereby produced which has spaced over its several sections ornaments of -a contrasting color or colors.

In the simplest form of the invention, *the blanks include three sections -to be assembled `together; a main section having the general shape of a vertical diametrical cross section through a spruce or other evergreen tree, while the other two sections have the general shape of vertical radial sections through such a tree, Awith vone of the Aside edges of each of the sections being straight and adapted, when assembled with the main section, to lie iiat against one side of the main section. The main section is provided at its vertical center lwith a plurality of spaced slots or a plurality of knock-out parts to leave slots, and the two 'radial sections have tabs corresponding in length to Athe length of the slots of the main section extending from their straight edges. In assembling the three sections, the straight sides of the radial sections are abutted against the opposite sides of the main section with the tabs protruding therefrom extending through the slots in the main section. The slots in the main section are of such width Athat the sides thereof have a tight frictional engagement with the sides of the tabs and thus hold the radial sections tightly against the main section in assembled relation. All of the parts have straight bottom edges lying in the same horizontal plane to provide .a base which will enable the assembled structure Ato be` stably supported on a table or the like.

The invention will be furtherdescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the invention. However, it is to be understood that such further description is by way of exemplification and the invention is not limited thereto except to the extent specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the several sections to form an articial Christmas tree di-cut from sheet material,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of a Christmas tree made from the sections of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the sheet material from which the several sections to form the artificial Christmas tree are formed.

Referring to the drawings, the several parts to be assembled to provide an artificial Christmas tree are formed from sheet material l, and, as illustrated, comprise a main section 2 and auxiliary or side sections 3. For reasons to be hereinafter set forth, the auxiliary sections 3 are formed in the sheet material in inverted position. The main section consists of a base portion 4 and an upper portion having the general shape of a vertical diametrical section through a spruce or other evergreen tree. Each of the sections 3 has the general shape of a vertical radial section through such a tree, and each has a straight vertical side edge 5 adapted, in assembled position, to bear against one side surface of the main section 2. The opposite side edge of each section 3 is formed with branchor limb-simulating extensions 6. The base portion 3 of each of the sections 3 has its bottom edge 1 extending-at right angles to the straight vertical edge 5, and the bottom edges 1, when the sections are assembled into tree-simulating form, are adapted to lie in the same horizontal plane as the bottom edge 8 of the base 4 of the main section, in order that the assembled structure may be stably supported on a table or other horizontal surface.

Each of the three sections is defined by scored or weakened lines 9, or are actually, for the greater portion of their periphery, di-cut from the sheet material I, with only suicient connections between the respective sections and the remaining portions of the sheet material to temporarily hold the sections in place. The auxiliary sections 3 preferably are formed in the sheet material in inverted 'position so that the branch-simulating extensions G of each of them may extend into the spaces betweensimilar extensions IIl of the main section 2, thereby to enable the several sections to be formed from the least amount of the sheet material.

The material from which the several sections are formed ordinarily will be cardboard of appropriate thickness, although any other suitable material may be used. Both sides of the sheet material are covered with a sheet of thin metal foil or paper Il of the desired color and having a. highly reflective surface, or else are coated with a lacquer or other coating composition which will provide the desired surface nish. In order that the surfaces of the sections 2 and 3 shall better pick up and reect light, and also shall have more the appearance of natural evergreen foliage, they may be pebbled, creped or otherwise embossed to give the general eiect of the needles of such a tree.

The main section 2 is provided with a pair of vertically-elongated knock-out parts l2 spaced along its vertical center line, which, when the parts are assembled as set forth below, corresponds to the position of the trunk of a natural tree. One of the knock-out parts is positioned near the bottom of the section and the other near its top. These knock-out parts are later removed to provide vertically-extending slots to receive vertically-extending tabs I3 protruding from the straight side edge 5 of the sections 3.

If desired, instead of merely forming knockouts which can be removed to provide slots for the protruding tabs i3, completely formed slots initially may be provided. However, for convenience of manufacture mere provision of the knock-outs is preferred.

The slots formed by removal of the knock-outs I2 are of a width substantially equal to twice the thickness of the sheet material I from which the respective sections are formed and of such width that when the tabs i3 of both side sections 3 are inserted into them, as hereinafter described, the tabs will maintain such a tight frictional engagement with one another and with the side edges defining the slots as to securely hold the straight edges of the side sections in tightly abutting relation to the opposite ilat surfaces of the main sheet 2.

Each of the sections 2 and 3 is provided at places where it is desired for simulated ornaments to appear in the assembled structure with knock-out parts I4. While the knock-out parts I4 are shown in the drawing as having the shape of circles to represent balls, they may be of any desired shape, such as in the shape of stars, crescents, triangles, candy canes, crosses, etc. The knock-outs I2 and I4 may be formed by dicutting or otherwise.

The blanks shown in Fig. 1 with the several parts to form an articial Christmas tree may be sold in sets of two or more, with each blank of a different color, such as green, red, blue, silver, gold, etc.

When an artificial Christmas tree is to be formed from one of the blanks, such as a green blank of a set including green, red and silver blanks, all of the knock-outs I4 of the several sections of the green blank are removed to provide openings or holes where the knock-outs originally were and knock-outs I4 from the red and silver colored blanks of a size and shape i corresponding to the size and shape of the openings in the green blank are inserted into the openings in the green blank, and ush with the opposite sides thereof. Each of the three sections of the green blank then will have red and silver simulated ornaments distributed over both of its fiat surfaces.

The three sections with the simulated ornaments distributed over their surfaces then are assembled by abutting the straight edges of each of the sections 3 against the opposite fiat sides of the main section 2 so that the sections 3 extend from the main section at right angles, and with the upper and lower tabs I3 of each section 3 extending through the upper and lower slots of the main section formed by removal of the knockouts I2. By having the Width of the slots in the section 2 properly correlated to the combined thickness of the tabs I3 of the two auxiliary sections 3, a tight frictional engagement will exist between the tabs themselves and between the tabs and the edges defining the sides of the slots. so that a relatively rigid structure is provided which may be stably supported by the bottom edges 1 and 8 on a table or the like.

Instead .of `iirst inserting :the knock-outs lfrom fthe red and silver blanks :in "the openings fin -the sections of .the lgreen blank :and then assembling the three sections .of :the .greenifblank, :the-:sections -rst may Abe assembled and .the .red `and silver knock-outs thenlinserted intothe rrespective.openl ings ofthe assembled sections.

In a like manner, artificial Christmas @trees may be formed -from Ythe sections 2 land f3 `ofany other color and vdecorated with simulated ornaments of one or any number of contrasting colors.

The auxiliary sections 3 o'f all iblanks of .a set are interchangeable. Therefore, if desired, a Christmas tree may be formed v-iiromsections of a set so that the mainidiametrical sectionwill be of one color and the auxiliary or radial side sections of one or more different-colors. Thus, the .main section may, for =example,be green Vand Shane -that when @assembled .they cooperate .with

one another -zto :simulate a'tree, lthe fsectionslfof each .blank vhaving knock-outs, respective fknockouts of the sections of thetwoblanksjcorresponw ing in size and shape, so 4that V'knock-outs 'of .a `blank of .one color can rbe removed land inserted in openings formed ina :blankofanother color by-the removal of knock-outs vtherefrom to pro# vide Aa decorative eilect.

2. Aset of atleast two'blanks ofrsheet material for forming three-dimensional artificial ltrees, each blank comprising a main section -and vtwo V auxiliary sections of the same color, with each blank `being of -a color different from the other blanks of the setythe main section of each blank having opposite `side edges simulating the branches of a tree and having at least one slot the auxiliary or side sections red, `or oneauxiliary or side section maybe red and the `other-rfsilver, with each section decorated with simulated ornaments of one Yor more contrasting colors. Consequently, the present invention, in its preferred form, enables the user Vto exercise his artistic ingenuity not only Withgrespect'to combinations of.l colors of the several sections which are -lused constructing .an artiiicial-Christmas tree from a set of the "blanks, but also with respect to the co1ors-oi simulated ornaments to be used-on-the several sections andthe -position -of the -respecf tively colored simulated ornaments about each of the sections.

While -it is preferredthat the 'several sec-tions be furnished in blank form, as shown in Fig. 1,

and provided with the knock-outs I2 and I4, as described above, the several sections, if desired,"

may be sold as completely separate units, either with or without the knock-outs. If sold without for the insertion of simulated ornaments are notl provided, the blanks or the parts to form a single vartiiicial tree may be sold separately, as each blank or set of sections to form a single artiiicial tree will be complete in itself.

While the invention has been particularly de-v scribed with respect to its embodiment in a threedimensional Christmas tree, it is to be understood that instead of the simulated ornaments being of a shape characteristic of the shape of Christmas positioned substantially :midway between said yopposite side edges and extending-in a direction corresponding to -the vertical direction A"of i-the main section `when the'latter is assembled with the auxiliary sections to form 1an artificial Vtree,

-each of the auxiliary sections having one uside edge simulating vthe branches vof a tree and `its opposite side having lstraight edge portions"to tightly abut `one of the opposite surfaces of fthe mainsection, and at least one tab extending from said opposite side edge of each auxiliary section,

the widthvof theslots in the -main sections being so correlated to the thickness of the :tabs that when two of the auxiliary sections-areuassembled with a main section with their oposite side `edges abutting the opposite surfaces of the `main section and with the tabs of each auxiliary section extending through the slot in the main section, the tabs make a suiiiciently-tight frictional engagement with one another and with the respec tive side edges defining the slot to hold the opposite side edges of the auxiliary sections into abutting relation with the main section, the main and auxiliary sections of each blank having knockouts, the respective knock-outs of the several sections of each blank corresponding in size and shape, so that knock-outs from one blank may be inserted into openings formed by removing knockouts from a blank of a different color to 1. A set of at least two blanks of sheet material of diierent colors for forming three-dimensional artieial trees, each blank comprising sections retained in sheet form butadapted for subsequent assembling, said sections being of Such provide a decorative effect.

3. A set of at least two blanks as defined in claim 2 in which the surfaces of the several sections of each blank are highly light-reflecting and are embossed, and in Which the main and auxiliary sections have bottom edges spaced the same distances from the slot and tabs, respectively, so that when the sections are assembled their bottom edges lie in the same plane to enable the resulting artificial tree to be stably supported on a horizontal surface.

4. A knock-down three-dimensional artificial tree comprising a main section and a pair of auxiliary sections, each of sheet material, thel main section having opposite side edges simulating the branches of a tree'and having at least one slot positioned substantially midway between said opposite side edges and extending in a direction corresponding to the vertical direction of the main section when the latter is assembled with the auxiliary sections to form an artificial tree, each of the auxiliary sections having one side edge simulating the branches of a tree and its opposite side having straight edge portions to tightly abut one of the opposite surfaces of the main section, and at least one tab extending from said opposite side edge of each of the auxiliary sections, the width of theslot in the main section being so correlated to the thickness of the tabs of the auxiliary sections that when the auxiliary sections are assembled with the main section with their straight edge portions abutting the opposite surfaces of the main section and with the tabs of each auxiliary section extending through the slot in the main section, the tabs make a suflicientlytight frictional engagement with one another and with the respective side edges defining the slot to hold said opposite side edges of the auxiliary sections in tight abutting relation to the opposite surfaces of the main section.

5. A knock-down three-dimensional articial tree as defined in claim 4 in which the main and auxiliary sections have knock-outs to form, when removed, openings for receiving like knock-outs of like shape but contrasting color from other main and auxiliary sections.

6. A knock-down three-dimensional articial tree as dened in claim 4 in which the surfaces of the main and auxiliary sections are highly light-reecting and are embossed, and in which the main and auxiliarysections have bottom edges spaced the same distance from the slot and tabs, respectively, so that when the sections are assembled their bottom edges lie in the same plane to enable the resulting artificial tree to be stably supported on a horizontal surface.

7. A three-dimensional artificial tree comprising a main section with opposite side edges formed Ato simulate branches of a tree, and an auxiliary section extending from each of the opposite sides of the main section, the main and auxiliary sections each being of sheet material, each of said auxiliary sections having its side edge remote from the main section simulating branches of a tree and its adjacent side edge tightly abutting the main section, the main section having at least one vertically-extending slot substantially in its vertical center, and each of the auxiliary sections having at least one vertically-extending tab protruding from its adjacent edge through the slot in the main section, the Width of the slot being so correlated to the thickness of the tabs that the tabs form such a tight frictional engagement with one another and with the respective side edges deiining the opposite sides of the slot that the auxiliary sections are held in their said abutting relation to the main section, the main and auxiliary sections having removable ornamental parts positioned in openings therein With the outer surfaces of the ornamental parts lying substantially ush with the surfaces of the main and auxiliary sections.

f FRANK C. SHINA.

REFERENCES CITED The `following references are of record in th file of this patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

